"It's raining so much today..." I look outside. Flora closed the door from the balcony but she let the curtains open. Making me able to watch the rain falls.
"They said that when the goddes is weeping, the weather was affected. It was a myth my great grandmother told me." Flora said.
After drinking the tea with medicine in it, my throat fell fine and my body temperature feels like drop down too.
"I hate it when it rains." Flora covered me with a soft cloth on my shoulders. "But it still look beautiful when it pour downs to the trees. The leaves like dancing when the leaf is feeling the water on them too."
"This rain will last for a few days."
"Does this usually happens? After the great weather on the festival it will rain this heavy?" I ask her. She help me when I told her I wanted to sit on the sofa. Gently holding my arms, I can walk, but I still wanted to be tended by her.
"It does usually rain right after the festival. The preists been praying to have a nice weather during festivals, and we consider this rain a blessing after the celebration."
"Really? I mean how?" Doesn't rains usually ended up flooding the area?
"Yes, because the heaven is pouring down water that despises the drought on the farm lands." She explain.
"I see.."
"By the way Milady..."
"Hm?" I look at her.
"It's about the color of your hair.."
"What about my hair Flora?" I tried combing my hair.
"I didn't know that you were wearing a fake color Milady."
"Oh? Is it showing now?" I ask her staring at my hair.
"I didn't know that Milady's brunnette."
"Brunette? Did you say brunette?"
"Yes Milady." She said and look at me smiling. "Do you wish to maintain the color on your hair Milady?"
"Is it possible here? I preffered my hair blonde." I sigh. "I didn't know it was brunette, to tell you honestly I thought it was just plain brown, rather I have long forgotten about it too." I try laughing it out.
I was expecting her to be shocked from my words, instead she smiles at me. "Then let's make it the way you always wanted Milady."
As supportive as ever Flora!
After she left telling me that she'll prepare food for my lunch I was left alone in this room. My body feels lighter than earlier. I guess that it was because of the medicine she gave me.
Though I wasn't expecting too much about the medicine she mentioned, she even showed me that powdered thing in a paper before blending it to the tea. I didn't even tasted the medicine, only the bitterness of the tea.
Ack!
I'm wondering too about Eiliff last night. Wasn't he supposedly mad about my action the other night? But he came to my room at exact moment when I needed someone around me. Was he expecting that it will happen to me?
Impossible.
I look outside the open balcony. The rain pouring didn't stop. It became heavier this time. Are they sure that this is not a typhoon?
Is it plausible for me to think that way? About him? Well, he seemed really cared for me. Comforting me like that last night.
Covering my mouth I rested my elbow on top of the pillow Flora put on my legs. There are no reasons for me to think about him. But my brain kept getting drawn to his appearance last night.
When I hug him, he hugged me back too. God! My face is heating up with that thought!
"Milady!"
I cleared my throat when I heard Dave's voice. I hope no one sees my face blushing.
"Y-yes?"
"I heard you were sick last night." It was Baley.
I tilted my head to check them. I was only expecting Dave, but he is with the three idiots.
"Don't you guys usually busy with your own things? How come are you always together?" I curiuosly ask them.
"Milady, Sir Sahana wanted to give this to you, he wanted to actually give this to you personally but for some reasons he can't"
My face brighten up when Arcon handed me this bouquet. "Thank you.."
"To answer your question Milady, it was the Master who told us to keep you company today." Chess.
Keep me company? "Come in and have a seat guys.." They moved all at once and seated infront of me.
I think the purpose of this sofa here is for them too.
"How are you feeling now Milady?" Arcon.
"Compared this morning, I think, I feel better now." I smiled at them.
"Probably because of what happened yesterday." Dave's face as usual, said. When his peers ask about what happened, he was obliged to tell them the entire story about the incident.
Though, I doubt that I got sick becuase of yesterday. Well, perhaps it triggered me when I remember how that guy took my hand by surprise.
Even with his stares at me. My hand tremble and I got scared.
"M-milady..." Baley.
"Y-yes?" I tried to calm myself and smile. "Yes?"
"Let's go out when the weather became better." He said and smile at me.
"When will it be?" I pouted and look outside. The rain seems like it will last for a few more days. "It's getting boring here inside."
"Well, you are still sick Milady, so staying inside is much better, and there is rain now." Arcon.
They stayed with me for quite longer than I thought. They really did accompany me here inside the room I am occupying.
Baley is the most talkative in their group. And based on the way they interract with me, they are really comfortable to be around.
Arcon who always have something in mind to continue Baley's garrulousness. They are fun all in all.
Dave, who's barely catching up with their topic. Me, on the otherhand can somehow answer to them.
And it was Chess who mentioned Sahana being a crybaby.
"When we start living at the temporary tower he cried like a kid knowing that we won't be back sooner!" Chess said while laughing.
"Why would he be crying?" I ask them.
It was Dave who answered my question after he drink from his teacup. "Because he said he'll miss his room. And he wasn't sure if he can continue his studies."
That made Arcon and Baley laughed out loud! Like their laughter really is something that affected me.
"Hey! That's rude of you two!" Chess
"Why not? I mean who would cry over that reasons?" Baley who wipe his eyes.
"Aren't you being a baby, living your room for the meantime?" Arcon.
See, how Arcon usually adds to Baley's words.
"By the way, why did you have to leave from the 'real' tower?" I ask them. Ever since I knew that the tower they brought me in was their 'temporary' tower.
"Master suggested it, since Sahana has been discovering about the dimensional gates." Dave.
"Oh, yeah, he mentioned about that to me!" I exclaimed. "But he said that it will take sometime to open that dimensional gate. How is that possible?"
The four of them silenced when I ask. I got nervous for some reason. I look at Chess but he avoided my eyes and look at his teacup.
And for the record, it was Dave who answered my question, again, right after he sip from his cup. "It takes so much mana to open dimensions. For Sahana it took him so much time to discover one, but all his records have gone missing at the same time he went missing."
My ear prickled hearing him said that. "Sahana went missing?" Our topic suddenly became serious.
"This is getting serious." Chess
"Sahana's been looking for his sister...." Dave whisperred that I almost didn't hear.
It was my bad for suddenly asking about that. How the hell am I gonna make up with ruining the mood?
"Anyways..." I look outside as I try to change our topic of discussion.
"To be honest Milady..." Chess. "I thought when I first saw you, Sahana finally found his sister."
Ah?
"Same here Milady..." Baley. "I thought it was you."
"For some reason, I thought too," Arcon who even sigh, then continue. "You really look like Miss Haniaen."
Haniaen..? My brain shuddered with the name.
"Huh?.." I was for sure heard that name before.
As I try my best to recall some memory, my head hurt. It was an unknown name for me. That was so unique to even heard it.
"Milady...? Are you alright?" Dave.
I didn't answer him. Nor I can't give him an answer. The pain in my head suddenly becamee unbearable.
'Haniaen!'
"J-just a minu---" I can't even finish my sentence. My head suddenly became dizzy that made me close my eyes hard.
'Haniaen!'
"Milady!" Chess
"Call Flora now!"
I don't know who's voice it was. I can't manage to hear well when the pain feels like breaking my head into pieces.
'Haniaen!'
Before I could open my eyes to check everyone around me, my consciousness left me.
'Haniaen, come on now. It's getting dark now.'
'You'll catch some cold Haniaen!'
It was a familiar voice. So much familiar that I can't comprehend properly. It was the voice that everytime mentions that name gave me warmth.
It was like, I have heard that name a long time ago.
'Brother! I'm scared.!'
I was back at the dark alley. Being all alone in the middle of the heavy rain.
'Brother! Where are you?!' The sobs became louder but the sound of this heavy rain makes it hard to be heard by the 'brother' that I have been calling.
"Are you awake now?" It was Eiliff's face that I saw when I opened my eyes.
"What happened?" I ask him, I tried to get up but I don't feel like I have enough energy to do so.
"Stay in bed, your fever is much worse now."
He put something cold to my forehead that made me flinch. That's cold.
"How long.. How long has I been sleeping here?" I ask him. I can't see outside because the windows are close, even the door in the balcony is close as well.
"You've been suffering from fever for three days, if you didn't wake up now, marks your fourth day in bed."
I don't even have enough energy to be shocked from what I heard. My body aches, my head feels heavy too. Even if I try to look around I only feel dizzy.
"Quit moving for the meantime." He said and touch my hair. Seated on the edge of the bed. Next to me.
I reach our for his hand, when he notice it, he instantly gave me his hand and let me hold on it.
"You look like a child with that gesture, you know." He said as if mocking me.
I pouted and tried to roll my eyes, but stops halfway because it hurts my head.
"Who am I gonna ask to hold when you are the only one here with me." My voice sore.
"Be honored."
He really is mocking me. "You look healthy, so it's no doubt that you don't get sick."
"Atleast I am healthy." He retorted back at me with a smirk!
"You are still annoying."
"I shouldn't have allowed you to go out if you'll be back being sick, you know? Does meeting the Earl made you sick like this?"
I scoff at what he said. Though because of how I got scared with the Earl's presence, enough to make me sick, well, I think he was right.
"He's a bunch of an a*shole you know."
He moved to face me. He even comb my hair with his fingers. "The Earl is obsess with beauty, so I guess you caught his attention."
My heart felt happy, so he's considering me beautiful?
He tilted his face and raise an eyebrow. "Which beauty was he thinking about you.."
"I... really wanted to punch you right now."
He laughed with what I said. "Even being sick, you still think of violence."
"You dare doubt the beauty I have." I close my eyes after saying that. I wanted to turn my back at him, but I couldn't since my body still feels heavy.
"Well, if you are confident with your beauty..."
I slowly open my eyes when he stops talking. But I was taken by surprise when his face is inches away from my face!
"W-what..." I suddenly felt conscious. This isn't the first time he did this to me. But for heaven's sake, even his nose is touching the tip of my nose.
That's how close his face is!
"W-what?!" I tried moving my face to my side.
But he didn't budge at all. He instead, buried his face to the pillow.
I, this position is not too comfortable for a sick person like me!
No one has ever done this to me. He's as if.. as if inhaling every scent of my body.
I felt the tip of his nose to my neck.
"E-eiliff..."
I tried to remove my hand that's still holding on to him, but he catch it and hold me it tighter.
"W-what are you doing..?"
He didn't move at all.
The hair on my spine felt like shiver when I felt his hot lips touch my skin.
"What the hell are you d-doing!" But my voice seems like didn't bother him.
"Hey...!" I covered my mouth when he bite my neck! Not the bite with his teeth, but with his lips!
"Eiliff!" My chest is in trouble. My heart pounding so loud that I bet he could feel it. "Eiliff!"
My body is not well yet, but I tried to push him away from me. Only to find him smiling at me. "You are indeed beautiful.." He whispers.
I blink few times before I could sink his words. "You, what did you do?!"
"Feels like you are no longer sick to be shouting at me now."
I hold the area that he bit. "What did you do?"
Frowning at him. But he didn't answer, he lay down next to me.
With that small space, he really fit hisself, just to lay down!
"I didn't do anything." He said, closed eyes.
"Y-you.. tsk.!" I tried to move to the side to give him space, but his arm suddenly move and pull me closer to him.
"Stay still.." He said, almost whisper. "Let's not argue for not. You need to rest."
Even if I am sick now, I am aware of my sorrounding. I am not drunk, nor woke up from a scary dream. I am aware now!
Goodness heaven. What is this guy doing right now?!
"Weren't you mad..?" I ask remembering one morning.
"Mad? About what?"
"You know, during the festival night? I mean the next morning, you woke up cranky for whatever reasons..."
He pull the blanket to cover me to my neck. I didn't even notice this, but he's also sharing my blanket.
"Oh, that. Don't mind me."
I wanted to laugh at him, but keep my laughter. "Do you usually woke up cranky?"
I felt his stares, before removing the wet cloth from my forehead. He got up and put it on the basin with water. Preparing the wet cloth to put on my forehead.
He look at me for a second and lay down again. "Is that so? Wasn't it a thing in your world?"
"Nah, I atleast woke up still beautiful.."
"Whatever."
This dude! "Yeah whatever.. Do I have to get used to waking up and seeing you inside the room? Like do you usually visits me in my room?"
"Hmm.."
I was expexting to hear an answer from him, but he didn't say a word, so I pinch him!
"That hurt!"
"Ow, I thought you are sleeping already." I reason out. I am still asking though.
"Everyone will flinch if you pinch them! Are you still sick? This violent lady for real!"
"So?"
"Yeah, ever since you came with Sahana."
"Ha?" I wanted to get up from the bed, but this arm of his stops me from doing so.
"It's so calming watching you sleep peacefully..." His voice, so gently and warm.
But this isn't the time to be amaze by that! "Why would you do that?"
"Became a habit." He simply answered.
"You! Are you a freaking pervert?!"
I felt him move, looking at his brows twitching. "How dare you call me a pervert!"
"If you weren't a pervert, why would you do that?!"
"Like I said, it was so calming to do so. And I haven't felt so calm ever since, so don't blame me for doing so."
My eyes widen. "How could you say that so casually?"
"As I said, it was so calming. At first I just wanted to check you, but it made me feel calm whenever you are around, and that's the only time you aren't violent."
"Heh, this dude..."
"Dude.?!" He got up and glare at me.
"Shut up!"
He burried his face to the pillow. "I don't get you at all. Aside from being violent."
"I am not violent."
He move closer to me, his face still burried to the pillow.
"It's just so calming...."